This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project , a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system, and News 5 Cleveland . Sign up for The Marshall Project’s Cleveland newsletter and follow them on Instagram , TikTok , Reddit and Facebook .
Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans could soon be back on the road after lawmakers this week passed sweeping reforms addressing the state’s driver’s license suspension crisis.
The legislation follows a Marshall Project – Cleveland and WEWS News 5 investigation that found the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles issued nearly 200,000 new license suspensions in 2022 for debt-related reasons such as failing to pay court fines or missing child support payments.
Amid a flurry of legislative activity this week in Columbus, House Bill 29 was passed late Wednesday. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine, who is expected to sign the measure and make it state law.
Julian Khan, who owes thousands in fees and fines after his license was suspended twice for driving without insurance, praised the organizations that championed the bill on behalf of many Ohioans.